Book picks similar to
That Night by C.J. Grayson
first-in-the-series
reader-recommended
amazon
cfa
A Lethal Frost (DI Jack Frost Prequel Book 5)
Danny Miller - 2018
After a morning’s betting at the races, bookmaker George Price is found in his car, barely alive with a bullet in his head. As he’s rushed to hospital, Detective Inspector Jack Frost and the Denton police force start their hunt for the would-be murderer.But with a long list of enemies who might want the bookie dead, the team have got their work cut out for them. And with a slew of other crimes hitting the area, from counterfeit goods to a violent drugs gangs swamping Denton with cheap heroin, the stakes have never been higher.Will Frost find the answers he’s looking for before things go from bad to worse?
DETECTIVE JACK FROST IS...
'A splendid creation, a cross between Rumpole and Columbo' The Times
'Deplorable yet funny, a comic monster on the side of the angels' Guardian
The Detective Markham Mysteries
Catherine Moloney - 2020
Two skeletons are discovered in the grounds of St Mary's Choir School. Detective Inspector Gilbert Markham is a rising talent of the Bromgrove police force. He is on the trail of the murderer when another life is brutally claimed. Who is the savage killer lurking in this innocent place?BOOK 2: CRIME IN THE SCHOOLWhen handsome teacher Ashley Dean is brutally murdered, gossip blames a deranged intruder. DI Markham’s instincts say otherwise. Could this be the work of a student? A member of staff? It seems unthinkable. But somebody in authority is holding out on them. How much more blood will be spilt before their secret is laid bare?BOOK 3: CRIME IN THE CONVENTSister Felicity is found strangled in the confessional box at St Cecilia’s convent. She is only the first victim. Someone has a lethal vendetta against this holy place. And only DI Gilbert Markham can stop them. To uncover the truth, he must delve deep into the sins of the past. Can he unravel the mystery before it’s too late?BOOK 4: CRIME IN THE HOSPITALDr Warr’s decayed corpse is found in the woods. There have always been whispers about the psychiatric hospital where he worked: staff brutality, deliberate misdiagnosis . . . DI Gilbert Markham and DS Noakes begin asking questions. They are met with a chilling silence. How many more victims will be claimed before the killer is found?BOOK 5: CRIME IN THE BALLETChoreographer George Baranov is found in the theatre’s basement with a knife in his back. He was known for his daring routines and his tangled love life. The pressure is on for Detective Markham to wrap up the case. Can he unmask the vicious killer waiting in the wings?BOOK 6: CRIME IN THE GALLERYCurator Helen Melville is found murdered in Bromgrove Art Gallery. She had discovered something troubling in the archives, but the secret died with her. Or did it? Detective Markham races to unravel the connection with a tragic cold case. Who will be next to have a brush with death?BOOK 7: CRIME IN THE HEATA body is found in the refrigerator at a doctor’s office in Bromgrove community centre. The victim is teacher Bex Shawcross and she wasn’t short of enemies, as Detective Markham soon discovers. Her crooked MP father and loose morals are the talk of the town. And no one seems afraid to speak ill of the dead. Then the killer strikes again. And again. Each victim works at the centre. Who will be next on the kill list?BOOK 8: CRIME AT HOMENothing ever happens in New College Close. Until one day a piercing scream shatters the calm. A retired teacher is found asphyxiated beneath a luxury mattress. The only clue: a badge from the school where the dead woman once taught. Detective Markham races to unravel the truth. But no one in the Close is what they seem.
Red is the Colour
Mark L. Fowler - 2017
Corruption. Murder.
It is the summer of 2002. The corpse of a 15 year old boy, who has been missing for thirty years, is discovered in Stoke-on-Trent. The city is on the cusp of change and Chief Superintendent Berkins wants the case solved quickly. DCI Jim Tyler has arrived from London under a cloud, moving to Staffordshire to escape his past. He is teamed up with DS Danny Mills to investigate the case, but there is tension between the detectives.When the dead boy’s sister comes forward, describing a bright, solitary child, she points a finger at the school bullies, which puts important careers at stake.Then one of the bullies is found brutally murdered and when Tyler and Mills dig deeper they start to suspect a cover-up.What is the connection between the death of a schoolboy in 1972 and this latest killing?
With the pressure building, and the past catching up with DCI Tyler, will he and DS Mills be able to put aside their differences in order to catch a cold-blooded killer?
Long Road to Justice
Bruce Hammack - 2020
Now, truth is rising to the surface.The conviction is overturned and David has to come clean with everyone—especially CJ, his wife of five months. It’s time for truth. It’s time to deal with this gnawing need for revenge…his mother deserves justice.David and CJ stir the pot. A den of snakes comes out striking and another murder is committed. His father is next on the list. David races against the clock to catch a killer intent on silencing the only family he has left. Long Road to Justice is a clean-read police procedural sure to satisfy every mystery lover with its serpentine twists and turns on the road to justice.
Sins of the Father
David Harrison - 2006
If it comes out, the tabloids will have a field day: Eddie Randall was a popular comedy actor in the 1960s. Nick goes in search of the truth and unexpectedly finds it impacts on a major insurance scam he is investigating. Then his estranged wife is found dead - and Nick realises that an unknown enemy is stalking him..."Occasionally brutal, but very readable... this writer seems to me to have real potential. I look forward to his next book." Martin Edwards, TANGLED WEB"Sins of the Father is a wonderful, exciting read full of twists and turns... This is a sterling effort from a new face on the crime scene."Chris Simmons, CRIMESQUAD"Sins of the Father is a rattling good read... a writer to watch for sure."Sharon Wheeler, REVIEWING THE EVIDENCEPraise for David Harrison (writing under the name TOM BALE):"What truly sells SKIN AND BONES is Bale's almost cinematic storytelling style, along the lines of what Lee Child does with his Jack Reacher series."Jim Winter, JANUARY MAGAZINE
The Rain Killer
Luke Delaney - 2015
Perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Peter James and Stuart MacBride.FIVE WOMEN HAVE BEEN MURDERED…All prostitutes. All with dark, straight hair. Snatched from the shadows of London’s red-light districts, their mutilated bodies left out in the pouring rain.ENTER DS SEAN CORRIGANHe’s been drafted in to assist the Streatham Police Department – much to the displeasure of the existing DI. But Corrigan has no time for petty squabbles – he has one mission only: find the one they call ‘The Reaper’, even if it means entering the dark and twisted mind of a cold-hearted killer.THE KILLER STRIKES AGAINA sixth victim is found and suddenly Corrigan knows what he must do to catch him. But is it worth risking yet another life?
Lies People Tell
Liam Hanson - 2019
A vicious killer on the loose. When DCI Bran Reece is called to the bloody crime scene of a brutally murdered woman, he thinks the case is his. And when the victim turns out to be the sister of his nemesis; believes the local gangster must be somehow involved.The new Chief Superintendent has other ideas. She sees the recently widowed Reece as a volatile risk-taker and puts him on leave, forcing him to watch from the sidelines. Or so she thinks. DS Elan Jenkins soon realises her boss’s replacement is out of his depth and takes matters into her own hands. But Elan has unknowingly put herself and others in grave danger.With the body count rising, can Reece and Jenkins overcome their personal issues and do what’s right? Even when the truth might be closer to home than either of them is willing to admit.
The Inspector Lynley Collection (Inspector Lynley, #1-4)
Elizabeth George - 2003
WELL SCHOOLED IN MURDER is set in an old and distinguished public school. The body of a brilliant young pupil is discovered in a country churchyard. Hampered by the code of honour and loyalty that prevail, Inspector Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers discover within the confines of that privileged community a culture of cruelty that stretches back across the generations.In A SUITABLE VENGEANCE, Inspector Lynley investigation into the brutal murder of a local journalist tears apart powerful ties of love and friendship, shattering the tranquillity of the picturesque Cornish community and exposing a long-buried family secret. Its consequences irrevocably alter the course of Thomas Lynley's life.
Christie Ryan Mystery Romance Boxed Set: The Complete Series
Phillipa Nefri Clark - 2019
Mystery, romance, and a dog called Randall will delight and move you. With a bonus alternative prologue to the first book, this collection is the perfect read for lovers of old fashioned romance, family secrets, mysteries, and warm characters you'll grow to love. MARTHA: Where was she all those years? A short, stunning story of love and loss, and the resilience and strength of a woman. THE STATIONMASTER'S COTTAGE: Christie Ryan inherits a rundown old cottage in a small town she's never heard of. Hidden inside are old love letters and unworn wedding rings. With her own life at a crossroads, she meets reclusive artist, Martin Blake, and his golden retriever, Randall. The dog adores her, but his owner refuses to help Christie discover the truth. With time against her, will solving the mystery bring her happiness, or heartache? Award winner, Amazon bestseller. JASMINE SEA: As Christie settles into her new home, the newfound peace is disturbed by a troubling series of crimes in the normally sleepy town. As pressure builds for her to sell the cottage, Christie's future plans are threatened by a mysterious woman who commissions a painting from Martin. In a heart-stopping series of events, Christie comes face to face with her greatest fear… and there is no going around it. With only one chance to save those she loves, will her life be the price? THE SECRETS OF PALMERSTON HOUSE: In 1853, Palmerston House was lost in a game of poker. Now, someone wants it back. Christie finds herself in the middle of a new mystery, trying to discover what do a nineteenth century diary, a grandfather clock, and an old key have in common. As a dangerous plot unfolds, long hidden secrets threaten to change everything held dear to the town. THE CHRISTMAS KEY: A heartwarming novella rounding off the Christie Ryan Romantic Mystery series with the last of the secrets revealed, and delightful Christmas magic to touch the favourite residents of River's End.
My Soul To Keep (A Detective Sergeant Alex Brady Thriller)
Sue McNeill - 2013
She is tasked with a mundane missing persons' enquiry. But her first case back on the job is anything but simple. The missing person is the niece of her Assistant Chief Constable Jack Dawlish's - Susannah Reynolds.And when a body is discovered, Alex Brady finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation. When Edith, a gentle, old landlady, turns up at the police station wishing to offer her clairvoyant assistance, Alex isn’t convinced. And with the attractive yet mysterious DCI John Rutland as her new boss, she’s more than a little worried about how he’d react to Edith as a source of information.But when a second disappearance is successfully predicted, this has to be more than just a coincidence? Where is Edith getting her information from? Is she just using psychological tricks? Or is there more to it?Something doesn’t add up. But who is telling the truth?What exactly happened to Susannah that night?And how do these seemingly random women connect to one another? 'My Soul to Keep' is a gripping contemporary crime novel that will keep you guessing until the very end. It is the first in a series featuring Detective Sergeant Alex Brady and the team."A brilliant new detective series that will have crime readers hooked." - Tom Kasey, best-selling author of 'Trade Off'. Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent publisher of digital books.
Mercy
Stephen Bentley - 2019
He’ll never get her back.Set in the near future, Matt Deal is a British businessman married into a wealthy Florida family.Mercy, his fifteen-year-old daughter, is the glue in his rocky marriage to Lorey. His life is changed forever after Mercy is brutally sexually assaulted on a Destin beach leaving her in a persistent vegetative state.Trusting the local detectives to bring the rapists to justice, mixed martial arts expert Deal concentrates in vain on his Florida gym business, only to have his world further explode on learning the men responsible for his daughter’s injuries may escape justice. Deal is isolated and at his wit's end after his rich father-in-law sends death threats blaming him for all these ills.Who can he turn to? Where can he go? What will he do? Who can he trust?Will he return to a post-Brexit Britain or ultimately will he seek revenge?Fans of Jack Reacher, Barry Eisler, and any vigilante justice novel will love this book.*** Trigger Warning ***Contains a scene of sexual violence and some scenes of explicit consensual adult sex.
Blood on the Island
Stewart Giles - 2020
There is no indication of where the man came from - his hands and teeth have been removed and he has a crude tattoo of a dragon on his back.When another similarly mutilated body is found, O'Reilly and his new team realise they're on the hunt for a deranged killer.O'Reilly is getting closer to the truth when the case is suddenly taken away from him. The Guernsey Border Agency, headed up by the arrogant DCI Franklin Urban has their own ideas as to who is behind these brutal murders and argue that the jurisdiction is now theirs.O'Reilly left Dublin behind but his past soon catches up with him in the form of a Belfast thug employed by a man O'Reilly owes money to. When O'Reilly's daughter is threatened by these people he persuades her to join him on the island so he can keep an eye on her. Soon he's faced with a choice - he can either do what these people tell him and risk everything he has, or he can defy them and spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder.Meanwhile, as DCI Urban and the Border Agency believe they're getting closer to the truth, O'Reilly has his own theories and as these suspicions are proved correct he comes face to face with one of the most depraved killers he's ever come across.BOOKS BY STEWART GILESDS JASON SMITH SERIESBook 0.5-PhobiaBook 1-SmithBook 2-BoomerangBook 3-LadybirdBook 4-Occam’s RazorBook 5-HarlequinBook 6-SeleneBook 7-HorsemenBook 8-UnworthyBook 9 – VenomBook 10 – SeveredBook 11 – DemonsBook 12 - DeadeyeDC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIESBook 1-The BeekeeperBook 2-The Perfect MurderBook 3-The BackpackerTrotterdown a box set of DC Harriet Taylor books 1-3DS JASON SMITH &DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIESBook 1 - The EnigmaBook 2 – DropzoneBook 3 – The Raven Girl (coming soon)PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERSMirandaMistressMedusa (coming soon)STANDALONE HORRORThe DivideDI O’REILLY MYSTERIESBlood on the Island
The Murder of Billie-Jo
Sion Jenkins - 2008
Her foster father, Sion Jenkins, who had just been appointed headteacher of the local boys' secondary school, was arrested and charged with the murder. In July 1998 he was convicted and sent to prison for life. The case went on to become one of the most controversial in British criminal justice history. After a momentous legal battle, in which there were altogether an unprecedented six court hearings, he was finally acquitted in February 2006. Jenkins was lambasted in newspaper and television reports. So the real facts of the case were buried under an avalanche of innuendo and misinformation. Now, for the first time, this book puts on record his version of what actually happened.
Death in Pieces (DI Haskell & Quinn #2)
Bilinda P. Sheehan - 2020
When forensic psychologist Harriet Quinn receives the random pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, she doesn’t realise they hold the key to identifying a sadistic killer’s next victim. A victim who hasn’t even been taken yet.
The Sum Of All Sins
Mark Sennen - 2018
A terrible secret. A shocking murder.Catherine and her husband move from London to a remote farm in Devon, hoping to forget their troubles and make a fresh start, but escaping the past isn't always so easy. When Catherine discovers her husband has been keeping a secret from her, and a friend turns up desperate for help, she is soon regretting ever leaving the bright lights of the city behind.